demolishes

present tense third-person singular of demolish
1
2
as in shatters
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of most of the buildings in the town had been demolished in the bombing raid

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in smashes
to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive terrorists used a powerful pipe bomb to demolish the concrete wall around the compound

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of demolishes If the city demolishes the building, the costs will be assessed to the property owner. Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 30 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demolishes
Verb
  • After a drone strike destroys her home, Alice, a graphic designer in her thirties, finds unexpected love with Vadym, a soldier briefly on leave.
    Annika Pham, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Once in place, the device releases liquid nitrogen, reaching temperatures as low as –170°C to form an ice ball that destroys the tumor cells.
    Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In a small town like Harding, a crime involving local children of local families shatters the relatively placid and usually numb routines of daily life.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Continue reading … HEAT HISTORY – Padres flamethrower shatters MLB record with jaw-dropping pitch in playoff battle.
    , FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • As Richard tries to kill Carrie, Sigrid shoots him in the shoulder and Lo smashes him in the face with a piece of boating equipment.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
  • As several women listen intently, Belushi, donning a toga, rips the guitar out of Bishop's hands and smashes it into a wall.
    Mark Gray, PEOPLE, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • What to do in Split Split is a diverse blend of ancient and modern life, where Roman ruins stand alongside modern cafés and a bustling harbor.
    Chris Dong, AFAR Media, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Nothing ruins a trip faster than your suitcase not showing up at baggage claim, right?
    Emily Belfiore, Travel + Leisure, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • I'mPhaedra Trethan, debating whether put the heat on at my house as the season's first Nor'easter blows into Jersey.
    Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Amina blows her mom a kiss and then flops down in her crib, pretending to be asleep.
    Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Americans are used to thinking about automation as something that devastates factory towns in the heartland.
    Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
  • The novel is about three teenagers experiencing the joy and angst of their senior year in a New York City high school as the AIDS crisis devastates their community.
    Abdi Nazemian, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Messy data wrecks forecasts, distorts reporting and wastes time.
    Thasha Batts, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Demolishes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demolishes. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

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